The isle of Arran is frequently described as being like 'Scotland in miniature' due to the diverse nature of its physical geography. This diversity is caused by the island sitting astride the highland boundary fault. Just as this fault bisects Scotland and divides it into highland and lowland regions the same is also true of Arran. Perhaps it is therefore fitting that Arran also possesses a diversity of stone circles. What is remarkable is that there is a place where several such circles are congregated together in one place. That place is Machrie Moor. There is a path through Machrie Moor from the road that most visitors will use to arrive at the site. However a word of warning - the conventional numbering system applied to the circles by our academic brethren is not equivalent to the order in which you will encounter them! On this page I have arranged the circles in the order in which most visitors will view them even if this does mean the numbers seem randomised.
Having passed the Moss Farm Road ring cairn the first circle you will encounter is circle five. This circle has a more memorable alternative name of 'Fingal's Cauldron Seat'. The reason for this is the legend that the giant Fingal used to boil up his cauldron by resting upon the stones of the inner circle while using a holed stone in the outer circle to tether his dog (Bran) while he did so. The circle itself is of concentric design with an inner circle of eight stones is surrounded by an outer circle of fifteen stones. The circle resembles several to be found in Cumbria.
After circle five the next circle you are likely to notice on Machrie Moor is circle three. The impact of circle three is solely down to a magnificent monolith of sandstone - the sole intact survivor of a ring of nine stones. The broken stumps of some of its lost companions are visible in the turf. When intact this circle must have been the rival of Stenness on Orkney. The stone has been eroded by the elements in a manner reminiscent of the stones at Duddo in Northumberland or the Devil's Arrows in Yorkshire. If you are lucky enough to own a copy of Julian Cope's The Modern Antiquarian you will be able to see a picture of a very relieved Julian enjoying the only ray of sunlight on Machrie Moor while admiring this stone. Al and I had no such luck with the sun when we visited...but at least it didn't rain!
As we continue our journey across Machrie Moor the next circle we'll reach is circle four. At first glance it is easy to draw the conclusion that circle four is a four poster ( a classic Scottish style of circle), albeit a somewhat sloppily assembled one. However the setting could also form a neat circular setting if a fifth stone was added, which would make this into an Irish style five stone circle! Given the care with which most of these monuments were laid out the latter seems to be the more likely scenario.
Further east is circle two. Like circle three this circle seemed to once consist of several tall sandstone blocks. Three of these still stand proud adjancent to the remains of the other stones that once completed what would have been a compact but fine circle
After circle two comes circle one. It is quite a contrast too. The tall sandstone pillars are replaced by alternating heavy granite boulders and smaller sandstone stones. This circle superseded an earlier wooden setting.
And finally comes circle eleven! This circle was rediscovered by Aubrey Burl during his excavations of the site thirty years ago. The circle had been engulfed by peat but has now been uncovered. Again, this circle was orginally built in wood but this was later superseded by the stone version.
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